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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



Document 
No. 906 



THE ROAD HORSE 

WITH SPECIAL APPLICATION TO HIS 
SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT IN 
THE RURAL DELIVERY SERVICE 



BY 



H. H. REESE 



Animal Husbandman, Bureau of Animal Industry 
United States Department of Agriculture 



P 



August 12, 1 9 1 2.— Ordered l > be printed 



WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFRCE 

1912 



^ 



X- la- inz^ 



In the House of Representatives, 

August 12, 1912. 
Resolved, That there be printed as a House document ninety-three thousand copies 
of a pamphlet entitled "The Road Horse, " as edited and prepared by the Bureau of 
Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture, with special application to the 
selection and management of the road horse used in the Rural Delivery Service, of 
which fifty thousand copies shall be for the use of the House of Representatives and 
forty-three thousand copies for the use of the House document room. 
Attest: South Trimble, 

Clerk. 
2 






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United States Department of Agriculture, 

Bureau of Animal Industry, 
Washington, D. C, February 16, 1912. 
Hon. P. V. De Graw, 

Fourth Assistant Postmaster General, 

Post Ojfice Department, Washington, D. C. 
Dear Sir: I am sending you herewith manuscript entitled "The 
Road Horse," by !Mr. H. H. Reese, of the Animal Husbandry Divi- 
sion of this bureau, together with illustrations. 

This is for the use of your de])artment in disseminating informa- 
tion concerning the selection and management of the road horse for 
rural carriers. I trust that you will find the material suitable for 
your use. 

Very respectfully, A. D. Melvin, 

Chief of Bureau. 
Approved. 

James Wilson, Secretary. 

56521°— 12 3 



THE KOA]) HOESE. 



TYPE. 



The general type of horse desu"able for road work is one weighing 
from 900 to 1,150 pounds and stantling from 15 to 16 hands. 

AGE. 

A road liorse should not be given heavy driving until 5 years of age. 
The limit of his usefulness depends upon liis individuality, care, and 
handling. 

BREEDING. 

The Standardl)red has produced far more good road horses than any 
other breed, although desirable ones are found with other light blood 
predominating. Morgans are very useful roadsters, and good road- 
sters are frequently found which have Thoroughbred and saddle 
blood. Draft blood is not desirable. 

DESCRIPTION. 

The following diagrammatic outline gives a detailed description of 
a road horse: 

General appearance. — Form symmetrical, smooth, stylish. Qual- 
ity, hair and skin fine; bone clean, smooth. Temperament alert, free, 
steady, kind. 

Head and neck. — Head small, neat, straiglit, flat l)etween eyes. 
Muzzle fine; nostrils prominent; teeth sound. J^yes fuli, clear, prom- 
inent, mild. Forehead broad, full. Ears small, fine, well set. Neck 
muscled, graceful arch; throatlatch fine; windpine large. 

Fore quarters. — Shoulders long, oblique; arms short. Forearms 
muscled, long, wide. Knees broad, prominent, strong, well sup- 
ported. Cannons short; bone clean; tendons prominent, straight. 
Fetlocks wide, strong, straight. Pasterns strong, medium length, 
angle with ground 45°. Feet medium size, almost circular; hoof 
smoo^.h, dark, fine texture; sole moderately concave; frog well devel- 
oped, Dound, large, elastic; heel wide and fairly high. 

5o^.?,.^ Withers prominent, not meaty, fairly narrow. Chest deep, 
broad. Ribs long, well sprung, close. Back medium length, well 
muse ''^d, straight, broad. Loin, wide, short, thick. Underline long; 
flank narrow. 

5 



6 THE EOAD HOKSE. 

Bind quarters. — Hips level, smooth, wide. Croup long, wide, mus- 
cular. Tail attached high, gracefully carried. Thighs long, muscu- 
lar. Quarters heavily muscled, deep. Gaskin long, wide, muscular. 
Hocks clearly defined, wide, straight, strongly supported. Pasterns 
strong, sloping. Feet medium size, almost circular; hoof smooth, 
dark, fine texture; sole moderately concave; frog well developed, 
sound, large, elastic; heel wide and fairly high. 

Action. — Walk elastic, quick. Trot rapid, straight, regular, well 
balanced. 

UNSOUNDNESS. 

The following are some of the most common forms of unsoundness 
in a road horse : 

Splints. — Location, inside of cannon bone; sometimes outside as 
well. Formation, bony enlargements. Detection, pass hand over 
inside of cannon and feel for bony prominences; splmts are usually 
easily seen. Result, possible lameness when forming, when causing 
pressure on a tendon, or when close to the knee joint. 

Sideho7ies. — I^ocation, back of foot just above hoof, most common 
on fore feet. Formation, ossified cartilage. Detection, place region 
between thumb and fingers and press; if healthy, it will yield; if 
sidebones are present, it will be rigid and hard; bad sidebones are 
readily visible to the eye. Result, frequently lameness. 

Ringhones. — Location, all four limbs, front and sides of pastern 
bone, "usually just above the hoof. Formation, bony enlargements. 
Detection, pass hand over pastern and feel for bony prominences; 
ringbones are also easily seen as a rule. Result, lameness, if it inter- 
feres with the action of the joint or tendons. 

Curh. — Location, at back of hock below point. Formation, thick- 
ened tendon, ossified in long-standing cases. Detection, stand at 
side of hock and notice a fullness just below point of hock on back 
edge. Result, often lameness when first developing. 

Bone spavin. — Location, inside of hock where thick bony part 
tapers into cannon. Formation, bony enlargements. Detection, 
compare the two limbs from squarely in front or behind, pick up sus- 
pected limb for a minute, and start animal on a trot as soon as limb 
reaches ground; horse will limp if bone spavin is present. Result, 
lameness, especially when horse is first led out. 

Bog spavin. — Location, natural depression on inner and front part 
of hock. Formation, collection of synovia. Detection, compare 
two limbs from obliquely in front; soft to touch. Result, some- 
times causes lameness. 

Blood spavin. — Location, same as bog spavin. Formation, enlarged 
vein causing abnormal amount of blood. Detection, same as for 
bog spavin. Result, usually considered unsoundness, although does 
not often cause lameness. 

Thoroughpin. — Location, depressions which lie just below the tendon 
which runs from point of hock into gaskin. Formation, collection of 
synovia. Detection, press on swelling and notice corresponding 
fUling on opposite side of hock; compare the two limbs for differences. 
Result, rarely causes lameness. 

Roaring; heaves. — Cause, in former, paralysis of the nerve supplying 
the larynx, wliich residts in the loss of control of a muscle at this point, 



THE EOAD HORSE. 7 

thereby interfering with the passage of air. In latter case, animal 
has difficulty in forcing air out of lungs, due to paralysis of related 
parts, often associated with eating dusty or unwholesome roughage. 
Detection, in both cases there is a wheezing sound in breathing when 
animal is vigorously exercised. Coughing will likely follow drinking 
or cutting off wind at throat with hand. In heaves, peculiar move- 
ment in the flanks and abdomen, especially after exertion, can usu- 
ally be seen. 

Blindness. — Detection, have eyes toward good light and look for 
bluish or hazy appearance; move hand slowly before them and 
note manner of batting eyelids; lead animal over obstacles and note 
manner of lifting feet. Have animal in darkened stable; hold lighted 
candle before eye; three images should appear; the first large, 
ui)right, and moving in the same direction the candle moves; the 
second small, upright, and moving wath the first; and the third 
inverted and moving in an opposite direction from the other tw^o. 
Result, animal very annoying to drive, shies frequently, stumbles 
easily, and is hard to keep in road. 

FEEDS. 

Grain. — Oats is the standard grain feed for light horses. Corn is 
quite commonly fed. It should form a part of the ration, especially 
in the winter. In England it is claimed hunting horses fed beans 
and peas can be recognized by their increased endurance. Barley 
is fed crushed in some sections of the country with very good results. 
Rye and wheat are generally in such demand for other purposes that 
it is hardly worth while to consider them as a horse feed. 

Commercial by-products. — Bran has a corrective effect on a horse's 
digestive apparatus and is useful to feed preceding or on idle days, 
especially mixed with warm w^ater as a mash. Shorts, or middlings, 
when fed wdth bran has practically the same feeding value as oats. 
Linseed meal is slightly laxative. It is very concentrated and should 
not be fed in greater amounts than 2 pounds per day. Alfalfa meal, 
which is ground alfalfa hay, makes a good supplement to the grain 
ration, especially w^here alfalfa hay can not be secured. Gluten feed 
and gluten meal are by-products from the manufacture of starch 
from com, and brewer's grains are l)y-products from breweries. 
Molasses, a by-product from the manufacture of sugar from sugar 
cane, is relished by horses. It is slightly constipating, but may be 
fed in any quanity up to 10 pounds a day. It produces a sleek coat 
and in trials has often increased weight. Any of the above feeds can 
be used in a ration to supplement oats. They lend variety, lessen 
cost, and it is possible to nave the ration balanced by their use. 

Roughage — Timothy hay has long been considered the standard 
roughage for driving horses in this country. Alfalfa hay is coming to 
be recognized as a good feed for driving horses, when properly cured. 
Clover hay should not form a large percentage of the roughage for a. 
road horse. Good oat straw or corn stover can form one-half of the 
roughage part if fed with good hay. Cowpea and soy-bean hays arei 
useful in this connection. 

Succulence. — Grass, carrots, rutabagas, sugar beets, silage, etc., can 
well be fed in limited amounts to produce a laxative and cooling effect 
on the digestive apparatus. 



8 THE EOAD HORSE. 

FEEDING. 

Quantity, Jcind, etc. — Since roads and work are not uniform, it is 
necessary to adjust the driving horse's ration to the work done, allow- 
ing, of course, for recuperation. A popular standard for maintaining 
horses is to allow 10 pounds of hay and 10 pounds of gi-ain per 1,000 
pounds of live weight. The proportion of grain and roughage should 
be about equal, pound for pound. To regulate the kind and quantity 
of feed properly, the quality of the feed, the supply and market prices, 
the amount of work done^ the individuality of the horse, his condition 
as to flesh and spirits, the condition of the droppings, and the appe- 
tite must all be taken into account. Sudden changes should be 
avoided, and the horse should never be fed more than he will readily 
clean up, nor should he be fed when very hot. It does not pay to feed 
cooked, cut, ground, or soaked feeds except in cases of poor teeth or 
faulty digestion. The teeth should be in good condition to masticate 
feed properly. It is advisable to sprinkle dusty hay. The grain 
ration should be thoroughly mixed before being fed and the roughage 
should be shaken out. Damp grain should not be allowed to mold in 
the trough. All feed should be of good quality. Judgment, common 
sense, fairness with the horse, and the happy rnedium of feeding 
enough but not too much will aid greatly in maintaining a horse in the 
most serviceable condition. A horse should be given only a small 
amount of water when hot or if he has gone without drinking for a 
considerable length of time. Experimental evidence seems to show 
that it does not make any difference whether he is watered before or 
after eating. Salt should be kept before the horse constantly. Con- 
dimental stock feeds are usually not worth what they cost in the 
stores. If a condiment is needed, the following will be found useful: 

Sulphate of soda pound.. 1 

Bicarbonate of soda do. . . . 1 

Chlorid of soda do. ... 1 

Fenugreek ounces . . 2 

Linseed meal pounds . . 25 

Mix well together. Give one teaspoonful at each feed. 

Rations. — In December, 1909, a 1,000-pound driving mare at the 
United States Morgan horse farm, averaging 20 miles daily, con- 
sumed the following ration: 

Pounds. 

Hay - 10 

Whole oats 1 

Ground oats 1| 

Cracked com ^\ 

Mixed feed ^ 

The mixed feed consisted of com, oats and bran in about equal 
parts. In the United States Cavalry, 12 pounds of oats and 14 pounds 
of hay are fed to the horses the year around. During November, 
1911, a 950-pound mare at the Bureau of Animal Industry experi- 
ment farm, averaging 12 miles daily, consumed the following ration: 

Poimds. 

Hay H 

Whole oats 6^ 

Ear corn 1^ 

Cowpea hay 3 

Com stover - - ■ 3 



THE EOAD EOBSE. 9 

The cowpea hay contained a good percentage of grain. Street car 
horses in Bremen, averaging 1,150 pounds in weight, consumed the 
following ration : ^ 

Pounds. 

Com 14. 3 

Oats 2.2 

Peas 1.1 

Hay 8. 8 

Straw , 2. 2 

Ration of driving horse at Wyoming Station, weighing 1,200 
pounds: ^ 

Pounds. 

Alfalfa 21.25 

Straw 3. 2 

MANAGEMENT. 

Quarters. — A box 10 by 12 feet with a clay floor is a good stall for a 
road horse. It should be light, warm, clean, and well ventilated. 
Straw makes the best bedding. Tlicre sliould be a paddock at least 
100 feet square in which the horse can exercise on idle da3^s. 

Grooming, — Thorough grooming has a more important effect on a 
horse than mere improvement of appearance. It cleans and loosens 
the skin and stuuulates the action of the pores. It keeps away para- 
sites and increases tlie flow of blood to the skin and surface muscles. 
On returning from a drive, in a hot condition, the horse should have 
his head, nostrils, mouth, and parts under the tail sponged with cold 
water. A light cooling-out blanket slioidd be placed on the animal 
and, if very hot, he should be walked until he begins to cool off. 
Then he should be nibbed dry and blanketed. The legs and feet 
should be cleaned after a drive, and the feet should be kept moist. 
Clipping early in the spring before the new hair comes out is bene- 
ficial if the horse has a long coat and can be protected from cold. 

Shoeing. — Shoes should be fitted hot, but not extremely so. Gen- 
erally the farrier wdll be successful by getting the feet in as nearly a 
natural condition as possible and applying a neat, well-fitting shoe. 
To prevent overreaching or forging, the front feet should have a 
beveled toe or roller motion shoe, and the hind feet should be shod 
to lessen the time of breaking over. Interfering and winging are cor- 
rected by weighting the proper portion of the shoe. It may take 
several trials to determine just what special shoeing a horse needs. 
Rubber and leather pads, rubber shoes, rope shoes, etc., help to lessen 
concussion and prevent slipping on city pavements. 

Driving. — Become acquainted with your horse. Know his limit 
of speed, wind, and endurance. On starting out, drive slowly until 
the barrel is empty and then warm up to the pace gradually. ¥/hen 
he gets his "second \\dnd" he can be pushed. Do not hold a heavy 
line, but have your horse in hand. Avoid constant tapping with the 
whip or clucking. Have the harness pliable, weU fitting, and free 
from dirt. 

» From Farmers' Bulletin No. 170, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



10 THE ROAD HORSE. 

t. 

CONCLUSION. 

To have a serviceable road horse, select one of the proper con- 
formation, action, and disposition. Having this, study the animal, 
and vary feeds and methods to suit his individual requirements. 
Study the details and have the little things as well as the big things 
right. Know your horse's best working condition and seek to keep 
him in that condition. 



HORSE S PRAYER TO ITS OWNER AND DRIVER. 

(Submitted through Hon. P. V. De Graw, Fourth Assistant Postmaster General, with the compliments 

of the Humane Society.) 

To thee, my master, I offer my prayer- 

Feed me and take care of me. Be kind to me. Do not jerk the reins. Do not 
whip me when going up hill. 

Never strike, beat, or kick me when I fail to understand what you want of me, 
but give me a chance to understand you. Watch me, and if I refuse to do your bid- 
ding, see if there is not something wrong with my harness or feet. 

Do not give me too heavy loads; never hitch me where water willdrip on me. Keep 
me well shod. Don't force me along the smooth, slippery streets, and when I fall, 
be patient and help me, as I will do my best to keep up and serve you. Examine 
my teeth when I fail to eat; I may have an ulcerated tooth. That, you know, is 
very painful. I am unable to tell you in words when I am sick; so watch me, and 
I will try and tell you by signs. I suffer pain like you, but can not speak as you. 

Pet me sometimes; I enjoy it, and I will learn to love you. Protect me in sum- 
mer from the hot sun. Keep a blanket on me in winter weather, and never put a 
frosty bit in my mouth, but hold it in your hand a moment first. 

I carry you, pull you, wait patiently for you long hours, day or night. I can not 
tell you when I am "thirsty; give me clean, cool water often in hot weather. 

Finally, when my strength is gone, instead of turning me over to a human bruie 
to be tortured and starved, take my life in the easiest and quickest way, and your 
God will reward you in this life and in Heaven. You will not consider me irreverent 
if I ask this in the name of Him who was born in a stable. Amen. 



THE HOAD HOESE. 



11 




Fig. 3.— front VIEW OF FORE LTMJiS. 

A vertical line downward from the point of the shoulder should fall npon the center 
cannon, pastern, anil foot. Cut A of Fig. 1 represents the rigrht conformation. B, C, D, 
represent common defects. 



of the knee 
E, F, and G 




Fiu. 



-SIDE VIEW OF FORE LIMBS. 



A vertical line drawn downward from the center of the elbow joint should fall upon the center of 
the knee and pastern joints and back of the foot; and a vertical line drawn downward from the 
middle of the arm should fall upon the center of the foot. Cut A of Fif,'. 2 represents the right 
conformatiou. B shows the foot placed too far back; C, too far forward; D, "knee-tiprung;" and 
E, "knock-kneed." 



12 



THE EOAD HOKSE. 






^ 




Fig. 3.— side VIEW OF HIND LIMBS. 

A vertical line drawn downward from the hip joint ishould fall upon the center of the-foot and 
divide the gaskin in the middle; and a vertical line drawn from the point of the buttock should 
coincide with tlie anfle of the hock and pastern joints. Cut A of Fig. 3 represents the right 
conformation. B, C, and D represent common defects. 







Fig. 4.— rear view OF HIND LIMBS. 

A vertical line drawn downward from the point of the buttock should fall upon the center of the 
hock, cannon, pastern, and foot. Cut A of Fig. 4 represents the right conformation. B, C, D, and 
E represent common defects. 



THE ROAD HORSE. 



13 




PI,. 1, FIG. l.-A three-year-old mouth. The four permanent incisors are seen, much wider and 
larger than the neigliboring teeth. , „ r ■ • «t+ 

(From Goubaux and Barrier's "The Exterior of the Horse," by permission of the J. B. L.ppmcott 
Co.) 



14 



THE KOAD HORSE. 




Ph. 1, Fig. 2. — A four year-old mouth. Tlie second pair of permanent incisors have appeared in 
both jaw.s, on a level with the first pair. 

(From Goubanx and Barrier's "The Exterior of the Horse," by permission of the J. B. Lippincott 
Co.) 



THE EOAO HOKSE. 



15 




Pi.. 1, Fio. 3.— A five-year-old nr "full " mouth. The mouth is entirely made.. All the inrisor teeth 
are on the same level in their respective jaw.s. 

( From Goubaux and Barrier's " The Exterior of the Horse," by permission of the J. B. Lip;.;nci>tt 
Co.) 



16 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



THE EOAD HOESE. 



002 850 172 9 



I 




1. Muzzle. 

2. Nostril. 

3. Lips. 

4. Nose. 

5. Face. 

6. Forehead. 

7. Eye. 

8. Ears. 

9. Allele of lower jaw. 

10. Tiiroatlateh, throat, 

tlirotlli". 

11. Windpipe. 

12. Crest. 

13. Withers. 



PL. IV.— POINTS OP THE HORSE. 

14. Shoulder. 

15. Point of shoulder. 

16. Arm. 

17. Elbow or elbow joint. 

18. Forearm. 

19. Knee. 

20. Cannons. 

21. Fetlocks. 

22. Pasterns. 

23. Foot. 

24. Breast. 

25. Girth. 

26. Barrel, or ribs. 

27. Fore flank. 



28. Back. 

29. Loin. 

30. Hind flank. 

31. Underline. 
'32. Hip. 

33. Croup, or rump. 

34. Tail. 

35. Buttock. 

36. Quarter. 

37. Thigh. 

38. Stifle joint. 

39. Gaskiu, lower thigh stifle, 
or leg. 

40. Hock. 



(From B. A. I. Bui. 61, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



o 




Hollincer Com. 



